CHRISTmas week, 2004

part two

What is CHRISTmas all about?

A special guest sermon by:

Pastor Jim Marstaller

Cornerstone Gospel Church

Naples, Maine

Micah 5:2 NKJV:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of
Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose
goings forth are from of old, From everlasting

Luke 2:1-7 NKJV:

1. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

3. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to
the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house
and lineage of David,

5. to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be
delivered.

7. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling
cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in
the inn.

Bethlehem, ''Ephrathah""

Which of the following events in the Bible took place in Bethlehem?

A. Ruth gleans in Boaz'' field?

B. Rachael gives birth to Benjamin?

C. Rachael bones are buried there?

D. Jesse and his sons lived there?

E. Joab and Abishai came from there?

F. All of the above

The answer is ""F""

It is no accident that Bethlehem was the place where Ben-Oni (renamed Benjamin) was
born. As Ben-Oni was Rachael''s ''son of my sorrow'', so too, Jesus was son of Mary's
sorrow. As Benjamin was Jacob's ''son of his right hand'' (strength), so too, Jesus was
(is) the Son of the Father's right hand. The parallels and pictures are eye opening. This
is another of the OT types of Christ, Who is the Anti-type. There are many types (or
pictures of the coming Messiah) in the OT that prepare us for Emmanuel who arrived in
a stable, in Bethlehem, and was born in the shadow of the Cross. Check out: the bronze
serpent, the offering of Isaac on Mount Moriah -- present day Calvary, Boaz the
kinsman redeemer, the striking of the rock in the wilderness, the ark, the tunics of skin
which were given to clothe Adam and Eve, the blood on the doorposts at Passover, etc.
[Keep looking there are many.]

Where were you born? Did anyone announce your birth from a king''s palace? Jesus
was born in an obscure place, no mansion, no trumpets sounding, no crier calling from a
mountaintop. We (most everyone reading this) were born in humble surroundings. We
can relate to Jesus the God-man. It is our second-birth, which is of nobility; in Christ we
are now princes (and princesses), sons and daughters of the God of the universe. We
are joint-heirs with the King of Kings. It is this spiritual birth where it seems to be
announced even in a place with many mansions. The angels rejoice at the repentance
of one of God's creation.

"You must be born again." Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ? Have you ''asked
Him to come into your heart?'' I was born part German -- I had little to do with that -- it
was part of my inheritance. I was born a sinner -- it also was part of my inheritance
from my father Adam. I also confirmed that fact by breaking the commands of God. I am
a sinner by birth and by choice. The payment for sin is death. If I get what I deserve it
will be hell, a place in the lake of fire. That is the paycheck for my sin. But "He who knew
no sin became sin for……" ME. A small part of the pain Jesus suffered on the cross was
physical, the vast part of the pain Jesus suffered was my eternity in hell, and it was
spiritual.

Jesus was separated from the Father while on that cross. "It is finished" was a cry of
victory. He paid in full my debt; He paid in full the eternal penalty for my sin. He has
done that for you as well. Have you put your trust in Him? "All who call on the name of
the Lord will be saved." Accept that first Christmas gift. That would make Christmas
2004 the best Christmas of your life.

Just express the cry of your heart:

God I am a sinner. Because of my sin I deserve to spend eternity in hell. I realize that
Jesus paid that penalty for me by shedding His blood on the cross. I trust Him and His
completed work on that cross. Please forgive me and give me the gift of eternal life. I
declare to You now: I trust Jesus died for me and rose again. Please teach me what it is
to become Your servant. In Jesus'' name. Amen.

May God bless you and yours this CHRISTmas Season.

Pastor Jim Marstaller

Who is CHRISTmas for?

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart
from it(training in love and fear of God and His teachings and ways.). (Proverbs 22:6
ACP/KJV)

We have begun this CHRISTmas week with our CHRISTmas card to all of you.
ChristianPatriot.com special guest Pastor, Rev. Jim Marstaller will continue with his
thought on Wednesday. ChristianPatriot.com Associate Pastor Mr. Steve Burzlaff will
have the CHRISTmas thought on Friday and on Monday, we will have a very special something by a man by the name of Bob.

Throughout the week, the links below will lead you to a week of CHRISTmas enjoyment,
the links will open in ta separate window. May our Lord and Savior, the One who gave
His all for us, Christ Jesus, bless each of you this CHRISTmas, may He be with you and
guide you to His love and wisdom.

Are you tired of the Christ denying news in maine? www.christian-news-in-maine.com You can make this the best paper in Maine, but it only happens with your help and effort.

May the Lord understand the
importance of Mac, Cecily, Steve, and Rev. Jim Marstaller to this ministry. Lord I need them both healthy and able to continue to hold up their ends. Lord this cancer of Mac's is starting to get in the way, this ministry needs him
whole, just a thought Lord, is all it will take, just a thought on Your part.

There is a young man, a veteran who suffers from some kind of chemical weapon exposure, in a
Veterans hospital in Colorado, he is young, and he is Saved, yet his wife just abandoned him. Please
pray for him, Lord, help him and deal with her and those who hurt him, we ask this of the Father in
Your name Lord Jesus, amen.

The Lord our God, Christ Jesus, be with and bless you all, amen.

The difference between a true preacher and a false preacher comes down to this. The true preacher
uses God's word to convict of sin, the false preacher twist God's word to justify sin. The Lord our
God, Christ Jesus be with you always, amen.

The Lord our God, Christ Jesus, be with you all and please keep your pastor and me in your prayers.
Amen. My prayer daily is "Lord please bless those tenfold who bless me."

Pray for my friend Mac, pray for Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage. While the Lord does not need the platforms and audiences that Rush, Sean and Michael have, they, Rush, Sean and Michael and their audiences need the Lord.

Pray for the President, pray for Attorney General John Ashcroft, pray for me, pray for all those who
open their mouths or take pen in hand in an effort to sway public opinion.

The Lord God of the Universe, Messiah Y'shua be with you all, amen.

It is better to be a horse fly in the stables of the Lord Jesus than the CEO of hell.

All Scripture quoted, in both sermons and daily thoughts, except when done by a guest, is from the ACP/authorized 1611 King James Version. The words in red are those quotes of God the Son, the Lord Jesus and the words in purple are those qoutes spoken directly by God the Father and the words in this sickly greenish color are of satan. But all of the Bible is spoken by God and should be viewed as God's handbook for us to run our lives by 2 Timothy 3:16.